Thousands of young people gathered in Co. Laois for Electric Picnic. At the same time, another significant youth event was quietly taking place in Co. Kildare. The Youth 2000 festival. “Electric Picnic is not the most important youth event this weekend. This one is. This is the future of Ireland,” said Fr John Harris OP…

Recent data from the US which found that for the first time young women are more likely to become disaffiliated from religion should be seen as an opportunity not a threat, according to a Professor in the Sociology of Religion. The Survey Center on American Life found that over the last two decades men have…

Loughgilly Parish in Armagh, with its parishioners still beaming after the county’s famous All-Ireland victory last month, hosted its annual Family Fun Day last Sunday, with young and old coming together to take part in a variety of games and celebrate the strong faith-community that exists in the village. This year’s Fun Day coincided with…

Parishioners attending the 11.30 Mass in the Church of the Irish Martyrs in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal on Sunday were left “shocked” and “petrified” after an altercation took place in the porch of the church just before the Gospel was about to be pronounced. The Mass was interrupted and parishioners were asked to remain inside the…

Parishioners of St Gabriel’s parish, Dollymount in Dublin flocked to the newly restored statue of Our Lady at the official opening after Mass on Sunday. Several years ago the parish’s maintenance team were clearing out almost 60 years of abandoned items from the bell tower when they came across the very dilapidated statue. Fr Pat…

Speaking at the Knock novena, Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin said that there is no real conflict between science and religion. “There is really no conflict between faith and science.  Both faith and science seek the truth.  Science approaches the truth by examining physical evidence.  Faith goes beyond the physical evidence to seek answers to…

A Christian woman in Britain who was arrested after silently praying outside an abortion clinic has been awarded a £13,000 (€15,254) payout and an apology from the police. Isabel Vaughan-Spruce issued a claim against West Midlands Police for wrongful arrests and false imprisonments, assault and battery in relation to an intrusive search of her person,…

The parishioners of Foxrock in Dublin have been paying tribute in their hundreds to their priest Fr Derek Smyth who died recently. Paul Markey Chair of Foxrock Parish Pastoral Council described him on rip.ie  as  “An inspirational priest full of humility and kindness. His homilies were truly mind provoking and many times were received with…

The Benedictine nuns of the Kylemore Abbey located in Connemara, Co. Galway celebrated the opening of a new monastery on August 17. The official blessing ceremony of the new purpose-built home for the fifteen nuns, was led by Archbishop of Tuam Francis Duffy. The building was originally planned to be completed by December 2020, as part…

Bishops and politicians have expressed their shock and condemnation at the apparent terrorist attack that took place last night in Co. Galway which saw a military chaplain stabbed with a knife. Fr Paul F Murphy, who is in his 50s, is being treated for serious but non life-threatening injuries following the attack at Renmore Barracks,…